Arsenal – arrivals and exits, final hours.

Today will be about whether Dick Law’s team actually know what they’re doing and can earn their wages.

Rumour has it, talks are ongoing to get Sanchez to Man City but we won’t allow the deal to happen unless we bring someone in. Sounds fair to me, only that could have happened a month ago …………. thanks Alexis.

My hope is for Draxler, he and Ozil know how to play together but Mahrez is on the horizon too.

Lots of talk of ‘no money’ out there ……. again no money!!!! To say this window is a mess is so far from an understatement it’s now comical.

But gooner friends, it does give us a large dollop of excitement for the final hours. Will our inept backstage team get a player over the line so that our Chilean can move on ………. 15 hours to go, buckle up we’re almost there.

Written by peachesgooner

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Definitely Peaches. I think we should hijack the William Carvalho to West Ham deal and give West Ham Wilshere on loan for the season. If ever we needed a type of player it’s him. Wether he’s the standard is another question, but all transfers are gambles, so why not take the risk?

It’s taken until last day of the window again to realise we need defensive reinforcement! Crazy.

I hope to God we don’t pay the £30m for Evans. £30m!? Surely not.

We just have to hope the Liverpool performance was down to TW disruption and we can tighten things up once we get back from international duty and players go into their natural positions with Sanchez getting his head down and playing his socks off for the team knowing he can leave at the end of the season (if he’s still here). Not a ridiculous notion, but not easy to achieve either.

No Money ? Yet again we are in profit through a transfer window even before Sanchez leaves. there was talk of a £200million war chest before Mr Clueness signed for 2more years. Can only pray that we can get someone to by the club from that blood sucking yank, sack the board and Wenger, fed up of our famous club being a laughing stock

I just think we might reject offers. Wenger can’t afford him to leave after saying all summer he wants him to stay. Makes him look weak at a time when he needs some strength. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but I just have a feeling he’s staying. Hope I’m right. It could be he’s just driving up the price of course.

I agree Micky, but it’s all rumour and guesswork isn’t it. Easy story for the press to say it’s Sanchez causing problems, but doesn’t mean it’s fact. Lots of easy stories around Arsenal at the moment, including:Kroenke wants money for a new Rams stadium, suddenly Arsenal have no money. Hmmmmm….. it’s all bullshit.

Rasp, happy to offer you my extra ticket for Bournemouth if you are still interested.
Micky, genuinely never had a kebab (I remember too well how they were made in the old days in “eating establishments” near me).
Chas, nothing like good curry for clearing out anything dodgy in the system.
Peaches, thanks for the post and happy Thursday/Transfer Deadline day.
IT’S NOT RAINING

Luckily for you Micky, you’re cocooned away down there in glorious Devon, in North London there is no escaping the snide comments from opposition supporters 😳 but I agree, we have made 2 very good signings … why the *^+% didn’t we play them against pool???

Always I’ve been a pro Wenger man. I’ve defended his position in many a row. The other day someone asked me, ‘If you had a gun put to your temple and had to choose right there and then whether you wanted Wenger or Big Sam – no other choices – a manager with immediate effect, which one would it be.’ I can’t believe what I answered. Now hanging my head in shame – what a mess we are in.

Morning Mike, I’ve noted that you’ve ‘liked’ many posts over recent years ….. it’s great you have chosen to comment today …. I guess the situation is getting to us all …. keep your chin up …. you never know ….

One other thing. It seems as if Wenger believed Ox would stay till the end, hence why he played him at right back, which forced Bellerin to play out of position and shunted Kolasinac off the pitch altogether.

Surely, surely now we will see a back line with either Monreal or Kolasinac on the left, Mertesacker with Koscielny and Bellerin on the right. Mertesacker is the CAPTAIN. He should be on the pitch. God knows this Arsenal team lacks leaders.

Leicester fans wondering if Mahrez, Drinkwater and Vardy leave today. They must be sweating!

Wenger has far too much faith in people in general by the sounds of it. Surely he must e known Ox wanted out after he rejected the £180k. Why play him at Liverpool? Why not just revert back to the correct positions for that game. Seems crazy. Oh well, onwards and upwards.

Very true nj, once the window closes, we will see which AW considers make his strongest team …. and how many are played out of position …. none I would hope since we have a strong player for every position

I said after the Leicester game it was a huge win as we can’t afford to have a bad start to the season as it will become poisonous within a few games. It seems it’s starting already! If Sanchez stays then I don’t see it as a bad window. It would be a good one if we got a defender in aswell. A lot will depend on Sanche and if he’s replaced.

Wenger have been a huge disappointed. Why would he all of a sudden do something in the transfer market. Wenger will be full of excuses and stories. Why can other clubs sign players but we can’t. Or we are interested in a player. The other club don’t want to sell. Another club comes along and sign the player. Let’s face it. Wenger got no clue what he is doing. The only reason managers want him to stay is because they know how predictable he is. Another sad sad year for Arsenal

– Gibbs out and Ox out – confirmed
– Sanchez probably out
– Wilshere talks are on-going with West Ham and Real Betis but a move is doubtful and he will most likely get renewed
– Mustafi to stay put unless Evans or Van Dijk joins us

George the farmer has a problem, his tractor is broken and won’t be back from repairs until the end of the month. George decides to try and borrow the tractor of his neighbour across the fields.
So George sets off across the fields to talk to his neigbour. He starts out thinking, “I’m sure it will be fine, he’ll be happy to lend it to me”
After a few strides, it occurs to him “Of course, I’ll offer to pay for the fuel…”
A few strides more and he thinks, “I’m sure it will be ok.. though some poeple can be a bit funny about lending things”
A few strides more…”Hmmm, I haven’t talked to him much lately… I hope he’s not upset with me…”
Later… “Well, he did give me that funny look in the village store last month… I don’t know what that was about”
Later… “Oh, I hope he’s not going to give me a hard time about this… I’m only asking, after all”
You get the picture, as he strides along, he runs over all the pitfalls that could await him.
Anyway, eventually George reaches his neighbour’s farmhouse and taps a little awkwardly at the door.
As soon as his neighbour opens the door, Georges says to him, “You can keep your blasted tractor you miserable git. I never wanted it in the first place!!”

That’s how some fans (moi) feel about this transfer window. Why wait till 11pm, it is obvious is going to be bad news, init?

i find this whole transfer business distasteful. There’s nothing wrong with the Club. If players want to leave then good riddance.

When a women leaves me or does something I don’t like its over, no second chances. As you can imagine, with that kind of attitude I have a very barren love life and consume plenty of ready made meals. indeed, my idea of a threesome is a Sainsburys two for one offer on Chicken Jalfrezi.

I am not bothered about players coming, for me that is not the answer. Look at our dear neighbours Totnumb. They have not forked out super big and as a result they have gone from obscurity to medicority. For that they must be congratulated.

I worry there is some truth in the “no money” line, and that apparently is due to wage rules in PL, with regard to maximum permissible increase for clubs without CL funds. So it may not be there is no money for signings but that there is no money for wages.

This is probably the reason that players are being shipped, i’d love to know how this will be audited though as no club publicly declares players wages, they only declare numbers of staff and a total wage bill, the only split is directors wages. Do they only include the 25 man PL squad or do they include youth players that may be called upon, or those that don’t require naming (Nelson, Maitland-Niles etc)

All that makes it possible for the media to bandy about astronomical figures without any fact checking.

The report that Ox was offered £180k a week to stay but is accepting £120k a week fits the media agenda to paint the club in chaos, how does anyone other than players agent/player and Arsenal know what we offered, has there been a direct quote from anyone in relation to the matter?

I’m not bothered by Ox’s departure, even £120k a week is too much for a player who has failed to deliver consistently.

I am more disheartened by Gibbs departure as he says in his tweet he had played for his team and thanked the club for the opportunity, which is why despite his shortcomings in certain aspects (although to me they weren’t massive) he never failed to be committed on the pitch. And I’d rather have 11 Gibbs on the pitch than a disparate bunch of financial mercenaries looking for the biggest payday or the best team to boost their commercial rights.

“Thanked the club for the opportunity to represent them” – no expectation to play, no expectation that he should play with other stars, just appreciated the opportunity to pull on the red and white jersey representing the club he loved, and be even more grateful he got paid to do it. We’d probably all do it for free it at least for no massive financial improvement in our lifestyle. That’s the kind of players we want.

I am taking the believe it when I see it route, I think the signing of Lacazette and Kolasniac may be our only significant business, cutting Gabriel, Gibbs, Ox and other fringe wages may allow us to pick someone up especially if Alexis goes. We will see.

Someone commented on twitter yesterday that if we have a profit from the transfer window serious questions need to be asked.

Surely it’s not just me and Terry that think we played better football when we consistently sold more than we spent in transfer windows? Also expectation was lower since we’ve spent money we have failed to improve, if not gone backwards, once we were a fairly consistent starting XI, our squad has grown massively due to players wage demands and then sitting on their fat contracts when not playing. Footballers want to play football, again back to Gibbs that’s why he has left (well rugby with Pulis but you know what I mean).

Let’s get back to basics, let’s make superstars not buy them, let’s enjoy giving our youth system wings in league cup rather than putting out the rather we weren’t there reserves who don’t make the first XI, and let’s start enjoying our football again.

Santi by the way will be this seasons like a new signing, as will Jack.

Sky saying that Arsenal are happy with the business they’ve done and are not minded to sell Sanchez as no time to find a replacement of the same quality. Makes sense really. We’ve just got £40m for Ox so suddenly the £60m loss on Sanchez has been softened. Also, we’ve signed 2 quality players and got rid of a load of fringe players who were adding very little to our results. I’d like a CB but if we stick with what we have right now then I don’t have an issue with it.

That would be an average, and would mean that the other 626 employees plus the 835 temp matchday staff get paid zero. So £132k a week for the 25 man squad is unlikely.

So any talk of wages players are offered or on need to be considered with this in mind.

I’ll do it another way, let’s assume the average wage for full time staff of £40k (that’s grounds man, coaches, directors, youth team, PR, ticket office etc etc and for purposes of the excercise I’ll assume the 835 temp matchday staff earn £100 per game at 24 home games (guess).

I’ll put Arsene down for his cool £8m often repeated

Temp staff £2m
Arsene £8m
Other full timers £25m
25 players £119m

Average weekly per player £91k per week which feels more reasonable.

I’ll leave it to someone else to add up all the supposed weekly wages and see if it fits in the £119m above.

£55m + £5m add on according to Balague. He reckons deal is close but we’ve asked for time to go sign Lemar which apparently we are confident we can do. Sounds like rubbish given we had given up on Lemar.

Part of me wants Sanchez to stay, the other part though is thinking that we are going to have to replace him next season anyway, so why not let City pay for his replacement for us. If £60m gets us someone like Lemar for the next 5 years then it’s probably a good deal for us.

Hey I was all over that during the stadium build but the days of celebrating Arsenal finishing on top of the balance sheet table are long gone. I want players that fight tooth and nail. Plus some results would be nice too. Saving money only lines silent stan’s pockets.

The fact that Virgil is in a blacked out limo is really doing my head in

Where’s he going? Is it good news for Gunners? Is he meeting Arsene at Junction 7 of the M3? What the hell is going down? Can they do the medical on forecourt. 5 press-ups, a star jump thing, and sign him up?

If it’s £200m for Neymar, 180m for Mbappe and £150m for Coutinho then I guess it’s the going rate. Its £30m for Evans ffs! 😂 If we sell Sanchez and get Lemar I’m happy with the window. Still want a CB though! 😂

Afternoon all. Many great posts from GN5, Micky and Peaches with great comments and tactical discussion. I had so much to say but haven’t had time (Chas breaths a sigh of relief 🙂 ).

Anyway I always feel truths are somewhere in the middle of many views. The board and Wenger have been horribly amateurish in doing what was needed to take the club onto the next level after getting Sanchez those few seasons back and it has resulted in (F.A cups aside) a stagnation in the teams development and a downturn in the clubs image (as an ambitious top club intent on challenging for top honours). Top players don’t see us as the club on the up like we were a few seasons back. That is bad management.

Having said that LB is also right that how can a player be forced into signing a new contract, but then again I arrive back at the point that the clubs lack of foresight and activity before now led to the point where players had us over a barrel.

We are where we are though and I am at the point where the finger pointing is irrelevant and we need to do what is best for the club. That likely means using this as a transition season. The project that started with Ozils purchase followed by Sanchez, (but was unnecessarily stopped in its track by the club and manager), has now failed. It is time to hold our hands up, (as oppose to trying to convince otherwise with nonsense about how it is ideal to have players in the final years of their contract and that it will become the norm so that is just fine and dandy), and now press the reset button.

I would prefer any player holding out with 1 year left to know that if they are still with us tomorrow without a new contract signed that they will become a lesser priority than players who are committed to the club, no matter how good they are (Sanchez). I would also let him know that we will not just accept any old deal in desperation. He has either signed and is committed to the club, has gone but in a deal which prioritises our needs over his, or he is here without a new contract signed and becomes a lesser priority at the club on the playing side.

Playing a player in a world cup year and in his final year who has half a mind on not getting injured for the world cup and his new prospective employers and new deal next season will undermine us. We would be better off playing a player not yet at that level but who is committed. I would rather see Nelson and Iwobi deployed behind Lacazette than Ozil and Sanchez who are looking to get out at the end of the season.

In a transitional season I would go for the development of our promising but committed players for the clubs future benefit over world class non-committed ones. Obviously it would be more ideal to have other top players come in (Lemars and Draxlers maybe) and the contract rebels to move on, but I would still at this point get shot of them and promote from within if we can’t get new deals over the line.

“I arrive back at the point that the clubs lack of foresight and activity before now led to the point where players had us over a barrel.”

Prey tell how that could have been avoided, you obviously have a view or you wouldn’t have made the accusation. I am genuinely fascinated as to how the club could have avoided this? Your rationale will of course apply to Neymar and Barcelona and Coutinho and Liverpool. How, how?

Barcelona received £198m for Neymar…..are we about to get the same for Sanchez? If we were I am pretty sure that most Arsenal fans would view this as excellent business from the club (provided it is re-invested). So is it really a good idea to compare us to Barcelona as if we are managing this situation as well as they did with Neymar.

Liverpool managed to get Coutinho on a 5 year deal with no buyout clause earlier this year (unless I have got that wrong) which puts them very much in the driving seat with any transfer involving him. Are we in that same strong position to control this situation as we see fit?

Further Liverpool have already secured attacking midfielders that cover what he offers, putting them in an even stronger negotiating position. Have we signed any players that cover what Sanchez offers? Again I feel to suggest that we are in the same dire position as them requires quite a large distortion of reality.

Where I would agree with you LB is in saying that in recent months the club could do very little. What I was actually saying was that although we can’t do much about it now that is because of how the board and manager have managed things from as much as 2-3 years ago. This situation is the result of a longer period of, basically, just not getting it right.

Sanchez obviously came to us because there was an image that the club meant business in pushing this club back to the top level, and was likely even verbally sold this vision by AW himself. The best way to keep top players at a club are obviously financial but also that they feel they are at a club that is really on the up. The latter we have failed with through poor club management from 2-3 years ago and I think Sanchez has held out from that point to see if we would push onwards.

Well we haven’t and he has remained unconvinced, and unsigned, until we have got to this point where you are right in asking what can the club do about it? Well very little now, but quite a lot further back. I don’t believe for one minute that Sanchez decided 2-3 years back that he didn’t want to be here, and that he made a conscious decision then to wind down his contract. Are we really saying that if Sanchez had been offered the wages we have recently offered him, and the club had been progressing to one one that could challenge seriously for the big prizes, that he wouldn’t have signed before now?

I am very well peaches, thanks for asking 🙂 Hope to see you for a game soon

dont get the reasoning there, GB. If Sanchez were sold the dream 2 years back, and he got on board, and that dream has not been realised, does he not bear part responsibility for it? and so he should try and fight even hard this year to help deliver on it, no? that is, if he has any mettle. hmmm.

Arnie. Of course all players can be considered as having to share responsibility for any team failings but it is fair to say that he has carried us recently so I am not so sure that when analysing our failings that he will be a key contributor in this. I am not to sure that he has dropped below an acceptable level to suggest that he just needs to fight harder and if he had things would have turned out so much better for us.

Also this is not a unique and first situation that our (mainly) key player has wanted out citing a lack of confidence in the way the club behave in being able to challenge at the top end.

To be honest though Arnie we may still pull it out of the bag, who knows. Things may yet happen. I am just making the point that the clubs attitude and behaviour in the last few years (in a modern football sense whether we like it or not) has hampered us seriously.

Sanchez has more mettle (and steel) than the rest of the team put together.

And that’s the problem he can’t do it by himself can he. And that’s why he wants to go somewhere else, where there is a commitment to getting better. Where he’s not the only one busting a gut, getting it done.

Sorry guys it may sound a bit mad but I still feel that if the club has hit a low point (which it looks like we have) we may as well look to the future and prioritise opportunities to the players who have the ability to become top ones and are committed to being a part of our future.

I look at what Monaco have done with both Mbappe and Lemar and my feeling is that their precocious talent was allowed to blossom into the real thing because the club invested in playing time in the 1st 11. Even a top player like Sanchez with what they can offer under most circumstances, if unhappy, can undermine a club and dressing room.

Is there a Lamar or Mbappe in young Nelson, for instance, I would still rather see more invested in him rather than Sanchez this season. I think we could have a difficult season even if Sanchez plays every game so why not take a chance on something that can bear us fruit beyond this season.

What a different day it might have been with your views, GoonerB early this morning
.”Invest” in players who want to play for for the Club and die for the Club, not for the money, not even for the trophies, but because being an Arsenal player means something to them.

To be honest I think I would have preferred that the contract rebels were replaced with ready made top internationals, but in the absence of this why not take that slight risk for a potential greater long term reward with these youngsters.

Players like Nelson, Nwekali, Jeff, Maitland Niles, Iwobi could be important aspects of our future but when and how will they get their chance? If fate has left us where we are now then maybe we just need to adapt and change tack. We might have nothing to lose because I am not so sure we will get top quality and committed performances from Sanchez and Ozil this season anyway.

I wouldn’t suggest we chuck them all in at the same time but 2 at a time should be fine, and my casualties would be those that will not be with us after this season no matter how good they are.

It looks likely nothing will happen now. Clearly we would have sold Sanchez if Lemar had been interested in signing for us. It seems our negotiating team forgot to find out if Lemar actually wanted to play for us ….

“Are we really saying that if Sanchez had been offered the wages we have recently offered him, and the club had been progressing to one one that could challenge seriously for the big prizes, that he wouldn’t have signed before now?”

I agree we only want players who want to play for us in the squad … equally we only want to sign players who want to play for us rather than use us as a stepping stone. I think our aim should be to make Arsenal a club that top players want to join, and that requires us to demonstrate our commitment to winning on the pitch.

Players ‘caring for the club’ is a lovely idea, but it doesn’t exist any more. Players want to go where they can win trophies and earn money. Simple as that. A lot of them care more about the culture of the city they are in than the culture within the club.

We tried investing in players who cared about the club and building a core of players. Remember Wilshere, Gibbs, Szscesny, Jenkinson etc? They all ‘cared’ about the club, but the problem with investing in these players is that a) they don’t all turn out to be superstars, and b) fans don’t have the patience to wait for youngsters to flourish and would rather buy the multi million pound mercenaries.

Would the fans be happy if we’d let Sanchez go and Wenger said the reason he let him go was because we had Nelson? Yeah, I’m sure that would’ve gone down a storm!

An 18 year old has had one good season at Monaco and now he’s joined their direct rivals on loan with £160m+ deal at the end of it! What hope is there if that is deemed normal? Football is a total mess ruined by stupid amounts of money.

I wonder how much of it has got to do with Arsenal’s and Chelsea’s handling of Sanchez and Costa. Players and their managers like to think they’ll call the shots. Teams digging their heels in wouldn’t reflect too kindly in my opinion.

Fair point FGG. I agree I don’t think that the fans would be happy if it was publicly stated that Nelson was Sanchez replacement, and I agree it is not really the most ideal situation and it is ideally better to integrate him more gently. But on the other hand look at what Mbappe is doing at his age because he was given the opportunity. It is difficult to see what is the right or wrong way to proceed, but as always I respect your opinions all the same, and mostly concur with them…..which leads me to :

Ahh…LB….the old your just speculating and spouting unsubstantiated and spurious opinions line. Well how about this from the last post. You need to imagine it in condescending and patronising inverted commas for full effect :

I think it would be a fair guess that Mustafi has asked to leave but with so many years left on his contract I feel again that it is a fair guess that he has been told that he was going no where and benched for his insubordination. If we are able to sign VVD then I can see Mustafi being granted his wish but otherwise he will remain on the bench until he tows the party line again. It’s all gone very quiet with VVD, this is all very Arsenal, its possible that Mustafi has heard about his arrival and has asked to move for that reason. it’s possible that that one was in the bag before Gabriel moved.

Sanchez and OC are doing the same as every other player who has only one year left on his contract, and let’s just stop and realise for a moment what that means, the player will be out of a job in a year’s time, no club, no income, no football and as such no player need to ask to leave any more. Today it is simply understood by everyone that such a player will be open to either moving to another club or resigning but in either case he will only do so when he knows what the best deal available which usually means who will pay him the most money.

So full of substantiated facts then LB? No hint of personal opinion or speculation in sight? Glass houses and all that…

Forgive me but I thought that was what blogging was about, to discuss each others points of view and opinion, even if you disagree with it.

Yes PSG pay ridiculous prices and very high wages …. but pool and totnum pay a lot less than us but manage to attract and keep top players …. in this instance it is about he culture and vibe of the club …. they are a more exciting prospect for an ambitious player

Barkley has spoken about his desire to work with the Spurs boss, and Ox spoke about wanting to play CM. So it would seem that the philosophy of a manger can be enough to get a player to sign (Özil is a good example), but sometimes it can be something as simple as the location (Sanchez chose us over Liverpool), or being played in the right position (Ox). Money is probably high on the list aswell for a lot of players.

How many windows in the last 10 years has that been the case? I can only point the finger at the manager for that as he obviously feels the way he plays football is the answer, even though everyone around him can see that having a solid base is important.

Talking about philosophy and culture, ours comes from Arsene and unfortunately it just doesn’t seem like the right one. How he cannot see that we need more strength and better defensive qualities is beyond me.

Koscielny has a chronic problem and plays through the pain, Mustafi has gone backwards since joining us, Mertesacker has his own injury problems and is in the last year of his playing career, Chambers is not good enough, Holding is a good prospect but his confidence is shot after recent games …. so yes, we do need a top class, strong and commanding CB

FGG, I’ve been using that phrase … the football culture and possession based style of play is the problem. We are very poor when not in possession. We don’t press as a team and that is what frustrates Sanchez …. and yes, the problem lies on the training ground

how many times have pool and totnum won trophies? how many times have they qualified for CL in the past 16 years? we do some things well. but we fans are greedy for me, which is good. the grass on the other side …

I still think we might be back in for Lemar in January and City back in for Sanchez. I am not so sure that Lemar is against joining us but we met with Monaco’s accepted figure today, late on, when that player is on international duty for a world cup qualifier, not a friendly. Why leave it till then?

The problem isn’t just on the training ground though, it’s in the whole ethos of what Wenger wants to do. This idea that we don’t worry about the opposition and we play our game is great against 80% of the teams, but what about when we go to Old Trafford or Anfield etc. Nobody is asking him to change his philosophy, but he does need to be willing to put it to one side for the odd 90 minutes where playing a defensive way might give us a better chance of a result. SAF loved to play attacking 442 football, but he always turned up at Highbury/Emirates with 5 in midfield. Why can’t we do that?

Also, it’s not just on the field, it’s the attitude that ‘don’t worry about the opposition’ gives the players. It’s too laid back. We should want the players thinking about the opposition and how they can dominate their counterparts and how they can embarrass them on the pitch. If they aren’t thinking about who they are playing against then they aren’t focused enough.

Obviously it’s a lot more complex than what I’ve written, and I’m sure the manager and players do considerable homework, but there is definitely an issue with the mentality of the players and I believe that stems from the manager and his philosophy.

You’ve definitely got a point about the fan perspective, but it’s so difficult to keep a level head these days when all you hear from the media is crap about the football club and how it’s constantly doing something wrong with its fans or it’s players. There is so much negativity that some of it is bound to rub off.

Come on arnie, don’t fall back on that ridiculous ‘it’s the fans fault’ argument …. you’re better than that .. there is absolutely no logic to it. We are a business …. name me one other business that blames its customers for its failings.

All true arnie, and none of that is down to the supporters.
The handling of the attempted Lamar signing with a large offer put in at the last minute was very poor …. either we hadnt done our homework … or like the 100m for M’bappe, it was just posturing.
FGG, Lemar will probably be 120m inJanuary

Thanks arnie, I think we need to differentiate between the things that annoy fellow supporters with opposing opinions …. and the things that supporters do that could affect the team. Supporters played no part in the club’s transfer dealings.

Ok apart from that negative thought, I want to address the “play for the badge” player discussion.

No one is saying they should all be starters, no one is saying there shouldn’t be signings of stars.

But let’s look at ManUre and SAF after the golden boys period of Becks, Scholes, Neville etc, even when the only remaining player from that generation was Giggs they still won things, this was a squad that regularly relied on O’Shea, Brown, Evans to bolster their back line, or Fletcher to fill in in midfield. These players haven’t gone to better clubs when they left, they went to lesser clubs who thought they’d be amazing for them but got them relegated in some instances. But what they had was `United in their heart so when they were needed they literally put body on the line.

We have made too many average squad signings at the expense of homegrown talent, and I go back to my point about spending money to fulfil promises made by the PR chief `Ivan Gazidis. Sanchez and Ozil were no brainier signings, Elneny, Perez and others I am not sure Wenger wanted them or was told he had to buy someone. Game time would suggest the latter.

Final point on the atmosphere surrounding the club, if we didn’t rise to the media bait and we weren’t so critical of the team ourselves then maybe just maybe players would want to stay. When you see some of the abuse meted out to players post a defeat or even post a win you appreciate the kind of tough skin they’d have to develop not to be affected, Nasri and Arshavin both commented on the fans on their departure, we called them names as a result because we were hurt, but the reason it hurt is we all know there is some truth in it.

Bad businesses don’t blame customers? Klopp did, when he lambasted them for giving up on the team and leaving Anfield early, and to their credit Liverpool fans took a look at themselves and started staying the 90 and the next game got rewarded. If you want to know why Klopp took the Liverpool job when he could have waited for bigger clubs I would guess the similarities of the city to Dortmund was a factor.

If you can’t go to football believing this time we might be different you need to stop going, other teams score occasionally, it happens it’s not one sided. It’s how the team and fans deal with it that makes a difference. I think it may have been a Swansea player when asked what the secret of winning at Emirates was, said we know that if we could keep it at 0-0 long enough the fans would start to turn on the team, and then nick a goal when it starts affecting them. Look at the noise in the Britannia when they were luckily 1-0 up, they didn’t moan and whinge or scream like a girl (sorry `Peaches, Eddie) when we kept creating chances they got louder in their support.

It’s not a new phenomenon, there have always been moaning bastards at games, unfortunately now they get to read it every minute between turning up to games so are even more riled when they get there. Some I swear hate winning.

Wenger as victim? Players inflicted upon him? The cognitive dissonance is astounding.
This is the guy that laughed off the mere notion of having to work with a director of football.
Wenger the victim. Pffffffffffffffftttttttt!

Ferguson got the most out of his players, even the squad players. Not the badge.

ok, we are going to the new season. Not a good start, but early days, we can catch up. But can we?

There is some unrest in the squad, hell knows what is going on there, but it is self-evident that something is brewing.
We sold Ox, and failed to replace him.
We kept Sanchez, missed out on £50mil which could go into purchasing a replacement and we have a key player who doesn’t want to play for us

Give me the positives please, because I cannot see many. Another long season with zero chances of winning a major trophy

lb – I’ve stopped going last season. This season I forgot to renew the silver card so the club have cancelled my membership. I wrote to them telling them to stick it up ****. I don’t want to go to games anyway.

This is not the Club I had fallen in love with. The ambitious, proud, successful, ferocious; the hard earned joys are not there anymore.

Both City and Arsenal played the game, both arguably lost. At least we have Sanchez for the season, but wether that’s a blessing or a curse is yet to be seen. I reckon I’d feel much happier if we had Lemar this morning. Shame. Still, I think the squad is actually stronger than last season given that we now have a prolific goal scorer and a much better left sided player. With Merts, Chambers and Wilshere returning we are not really any worse off in defence or midfield, and even though I think we need to strengthen those areas, I don’t think they are worse than last season. The loss of Ox sees us weaken the right side a little, but I didn’t think he was that good for us anyway.

Trying to spend money is certainly the highlight of the window for me BR! 😂

If someone had said Lacazette Kolasinac IN Gabriel, Ox, Szscesny, Gibbs OUT Özil and Sanchez REMAIN at the beginning of the window, most of us would’ve been delighted I think, but somehow we’ve managed to conduct it in such an amateurish way that it leaves a bit of an odd taste at the back of the mouth. Maybe that’s just last nights curry!

Wenger has zero interest in the traditional DM. It goes against his football philosophy. It’s a wasted player as far as he’s concerned. Even the one he bought (Xhaka) is a footballer with a wand of a left foot who he managed to tame into a soft arse within 6 months! If he wanted one, Coquelin would be playing week in week out already.

LB, on the authority to buy thing, I would just love to know, we probably will never know the truth unless Arsene writes a book, the Wenger controls everything at the club line has been repeated so many times it has become fact, but has any of it come from a trustworthy source?

When Arsene wants a player, they arrive and they play, Arteta, BFG, Santi, Podolski (first season or two) etc. Unless they are the 16-21 age group and brought in for future.

Do I believe Gazidis? No he is the arch PR manipulator that puts it all on Arsene’s shoulders.

It just seemed to me that he was pressured to spend money because the club kept saying we could.

FGG, your 7.56am is spot on. We still have an excellent squad. I think that the Liverpool game was a mix of too much uncertainty in the squad with the TW still open and getting the line up and tactics horribly wrong. As long as AW gets a team balance we have a 1st 11 as strong as any.

only thing that might derail us is if we notice a less than committed Sanchez. If so he needs to be removed to the reserves ASAP and then look at the options to move him on and bring in Lemar in Jan. Hopefully by then we will have played our way into contention and look a good option for top players again.

I agree Micky. I said after the Pool game that these same players were immense against City and Chelsea in the cup last season. That’s the defensive attitude we need in every game regardless of personnel. There were definitely off-field issues against Liverpool that effected the performance. It’s not right, but hopefully the players can move on.

It’s only really the Mustafi signing and potential offloading that rings alarm bells. Perez has been mentioned aswell, but with him it always seemed to be that when we could’ve used him he was injured. It just didn’t quite work out. There were rumours that Mustafi upset Wenger in some way, so it could just be something like that. I do agree though that from the outside it looks odd and makes you wonder who’s buying the players.

Paul Merson! Oh dear! His assessment of our transfer business was that ‘we’ve bought a striker when we already had one’. Is he serious? All I’ve heard for the last 5 years is him rattle on about how we need a goal scorer! The media coverage of our club is hilarious.

I think Chambers was good for Boro last year and has more experience than Holding. I’m not sure Merts has the legs anymore and should be used as back up. Monreal is a decent player but is he a CB? I’m not convinced. If we get the back line sorted and get Kol and Bellerin a little more disciplined then I think the Ramsey Xhaka partnership can still be the answer, but we have to communicate as a team so that we know when Ramsey has vacated midfield we don’t all follow him up front. Also, if Ramsey does step out, then we should still have enough men with the 3 CB’s, Xhaka and possibly a WB being behind the ball. We have to stop this gung-ho attitude. Up front picks itself if Sanchez is giving 100%.

Normally I would agree with the idea of Monreal being left footed therefore vital to our balance, however, Koscielny is very much a left sided CB and plays very well on that side, so in this instance I don’t think Monreal is a must-play.

I think defending is not only necessary but also quite brilliant when executed well. Our history of having amazing centre-backs that judge so carefully when to take out the ball. Sometimes it doesn’t come off but when it does it’s a thing of beauty.

Saying that I do love it when we score goals 😁 and that’s what I’m looking forward to.

I too think your 7.56 FGG was exactly how I see it. The Liverpool game had, I believe, many behind the scenes “disputes” going on both leading up to yesterday and possibly in terms of tactics. If we are to continue playing three at the back,( and I say if because I am concerned that Arsene sees that as two wing backs on half way line or forward of it. Whereas I believe if one attacks the other holds back) I want Bellerin to be worked on with regard to his defensive technique, body shape, when to commit to intercept, when to hold back, how to tackle, how to put your body in the way to stop crosses. My suggestion is Lee Dixon or Nigel to be detailed with job until he is word perfect. For this reason I would not make him a shoe in for selection. My team for Bournemouth would be

Bryan, opinion of course ……..and I would play him on the right and with the restrictions I mentioned. I believe he is a better “defender” than Bellerin, has gained more experience from his loan, and for that matter must be a better crosser than the Spaniard!

Why Monreal? Because in a three he can sweep when the other goes to attack the ball.

The problem we have in a four is when one goes to attack and misses his mate is left one on one with normally a winger breaking in and our wing backs nowhere to be seen.

The only question is where does Alexis fit in if this is our starting back 5?

He is guaranteed a start. But I’m not sure how you shoehorn them all in, he is not going to play the wingback role, we can’t afford him and Ozil in the centre of midfield, and playing him up top as part of a two doesn’t really work either assuming the other player up top has to be Lacazette?

Maybe we play Kolasniac on left and Alexis on right? No more ineffective defensively than Hector

What are you going to do about Ramsey? I don’t want to see him dithering in the box hoping to toe poke the ball into the back of the net ……… we’ve got Welbeck, Lacazette. Alexis, Ozil, Iwobi to do that.

I don’t mind him going on a lung busting run to get on the end of a dinked ball though 😁

Not asking too much ……. he might need to shout Tally ho when he goes though so someone knows to cover his position.

I do think we’re overdoing this defending business. I mean 3 cb’s, then one of the wingbacks holding back, then we expect a dm as well.
I mean crikey, not surprising we’re shipping goals as we’re more or less saying attack us cos we ain’t got enough attackers to attack you anyway

Well that was an interesting puff of a TW
Great comments these last few days, it was a great consistent news feed that oscillated from calm to panic to somewhere in between. I wish I could’ve joined in but work has become all consuming.

On the flip side (from fourfourtwo)
Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal believes reports linking Alexis Sanchez with a move from Arsenal to Manchester City were “made up”.

Reports in Britain had suggested Sanchez had signed a contract with City on transfer deadline day on Thursday, with Arsenal moving for Monaco winger Thomas Lemar as his replacement, only for both deals to fall through.
But Bayern Munich midfielder Vidal suggested that was not the case and he also denied claims Sanchez had informed his international colleagues of an impending move.
“To whom? No, no, to nobody,” Vidal told reporters after the match. “Not to me. I don’t think so.
“I think it was all made up because he was very focused on today’s game.”

A rabbit walks into a bar and says to the barman ” got any carrots?” The barman say ” this is a bar, we don’t sell carrots” The rabbit leaves. the next day, the rabbit walks into the bar and says ” got any carrots?” the barman says ” I told you yesterday that this is a bar and we don’t sell carrot” the rabbit leaves. every day for a week the duck comes in and asks if they sell carrots. The barman is getting more and more fed up with the rabbit and finally says to him ” If you come in here again and ask if we sell bloody carrots, I will nail your bloody feet to the floor.” The rabbit leaves. Two days later the rabbit walks into the bar and says to the barman ” Got any nails?” the barman says ” No” so the rabbit says ” Got any carrots then?” 🙂 🙂

I listened to TalkSport radio yesterday (painting the ceilings – 12 coats of paint so far) and there was this dude promoting his club. He said they are the 2nd choice team for Arsenal, Chelsea, Totts and all other London clubs. They are playing today and invited all other clubs’ season ticket holders to come to the game for £5 per ticket Who are they?? Is it Wimbledon? they are not my second favourite

micky – my final part of the summer shenanigans is about painters.
I wasn’t going to paint the house yet, but while at Wickes I was stopped by a very polite Romanian offering his building services. I had fallen for it, bought the paint and he started the following day. We agreed the price, duration, etc. He splashed the paint everywhere, tonnes of masking tape went on, sent me to B&Q to buy more paint. When I came back he demanded £600 up front. I refused, he became very abusive, I managed to pay him for 1/2 day and got rid of him.
Second painter was a polish man. He was good, but worked only every 3 days – took daily pay and disappeared to 2 days. I told him not to bother.
Third came from Worthing, lived in the house and stayed for 1 week. Destroyed my walls the bastard. He was a gambler and at about noon he was shacking gagging to go to the bookies. Horror. Thank god he went away for a weekend and I forbid him coming back.

And then I swore I won’t have another man working in my house. Never, even if it is to fall apart. Maybe except 2 guys that I really trust.

I am paining it myself, struggle, but love it 🙂 And it has to be perfect so I am spending weeks on each wall,, ceiling, border. Highly recommend it to all, very therapeutic

micky – I’d rather do some gardening, but there is no way on this earth that I will let any more cretins into my house, pay them, watch them destroying the walls because they are too lazy to sand down imperfections and fill in little holes. And listen to their fecking radios, making them coffees and cleaning toilets after them. NO, I’d rather paint my own walls.